Blacksmith exhibition moves to Titanic Centre

October 23, 2012

After a hugely successful stint at Russborough House, Co.Wicklow, a Titanic themed exhibition featuring work from local Blacksmiths, Gerard Loughran and Michael Mallon, will take up residence at the Belfast Titanic Centre, where it opens to the public on 28th of October and runs until 19th of November.

Killeavy man Gerard Loughran and Michael Mallon from Carrivemaclone, who are both members of the Irish Artist Blacksmiths Association (IABA), will be exhibiting their works at the venue along with 50 pieces of metal art work from the top artist blacksmiths from around Ireland. Gerard feels the venue is a must for interior designers, architects and art students to see how, with the use of fire and anvil, metal can be manipulated into beautiful form, creating both artistic and functional pieces.

He told The Examiner he is keen to convey the message that Blacksmiths have come a long way from the traditional horse shoeing image held by most people.

As he explains, “A whole different generation of Blacksmiths has come along and the exhibition in Russborough was an opportunity to educate the general public, as well as architects, interior designers and the like, about what can be created in the forge. We’re way behind Europe and the UK who’ve been using Blacksmiths for all types of bespoke work for years now.

Gerard is delighted that August’s exhibition caught the attention of the Titanic Building and looks forward to raising the profile of Blacksmith’s once again in such an apt setting.